Go lauds Filipino athletes for making history in Tokyo Olympics

The Senate Committee on Sports on Monday August 8 congratulated all Filipino athletes for the best Olympic campaign so far after bagging four medals, including the country’s first-ever Olympic gold medal.

There are a total of 19 Filipino Olympians who competed and among the Filipino medalists were Hidilyn Diaz who finished gold in the women’s 55-kilogram weightlifting event, Carlo Paalam who got silver in the men’s flyweight boxing, Nesthy Petecio who earned silver in the women’s featherweight boxing, and Eumir Marcial for bringing home bronze in the men’s middleweight boxing.

Senator Christopher ‘Bong’’ Go, committee chairman, also congratulated Filipino golfers, Juvic Pagunsan, Yuka Saso, and Bianca Pagdanganan.

He, likewise, expressed gratitude to pole vaulter EJ Obiena, gymnast Carlos Yulo, and skateboarder Margielyn Didal for their exemplary performance during the Olympics.

Under Republic Act No. 10699, Olympic medalists would be awarded P10 million if they win a gold medal; P5 million for a silver medal; and P2 million for a bronze medal.

On the other hand, paralympic medalists will get P5 million for a gold medal; P2.5 million for a silver medal; and P1 million for a bronze medal.

“With so much pride and gratitude, I very warmly congratulate Team Philippines for the biggest medal haul for the country since we joined the Olympics in 1924!” Go said in a statement.

“With one gold, two silver, and one bronze medal, this is so far our most successful campaign as we strive to be one of Asia’s sports powerhouses again,” Go said.

Go mentioned that the achievement of Filipino Olympians would open doors to more aspiring athletes as he pledged to push for more government support that would protect and promote the betterment of athletes towards the country’s sports renaissance.

As vice chairman of the Senate Committee on Finance, Go said that there are sufficient funds to support the preparations of athletes for the Olympics.

He specifically pushed for an additional P100 million pesos to be included in the 2021 budget which was later increased to P250 million pesos under the Philippine Sports Commission (PSC).

Initial allowances and provisions were also given to the athletes and coaches including US$1,000 per person, delegation supply of competition equipment and uniforms, plane tickets, billeting, and delegation uniforms through the efforts of the PSC.

Upon Go’s recommendation, the Office of the President added a P100,000 allowance for each athlete who qualified for the Olympics and Paralympics.

When enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) measures were strictly imposed in most parts of the country last year, Go urged government agencies to provide much needed support to athletes whose training and livelihood had been hampered by the pandemic.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD), in coordination with the Games and Amusement Board (GAB) and the PSC, granted financial assistance and other forms of aid to athletes in various parts of the country upon the recommendation of Go.

“Under the administration of President Duterte, we saw the biggest spending ever spent by the government for our sports programs. And as chair of the Senate Committee on Sports, I will continue to promote and advance long-term and grassroots sports development in the country,” Go said.

As part of his vision to provide a dedicated academy where promising young athletes can further hone their talents while getting quality education, Go authored and co-sponsored the National Academy of Sports (NAS) bill in the Senate which was enacted into Republic Act No. 11470 in 2020. The measure seeks the establishment of the NAS System and Main Campus in New Clark City, Capas, Tarlac.

The NAS is a government-run academy aimed at developing the country’s future athletes that offers quality secondary education with a special curriculum on sports for gifted young Filipinos who want to enhance their physical and mental capabilities in sports.

On July 27, Go also filed a Senate resolution recognizing Filipina weightlifter Hidilyn Diaz for successfully getting the first Olympic gold for the country.

The resolution lauding Diaz stated that “the astounding performance, commitment and unrelenting spirit of Filipino competitiveness and excellence shown by Hidilyn Diaz truly deserve to be commended for the recognition and distinction she has brought to the country.”